Kathryn Joan Davis

Kathryn Joan Davis (Harms), 68, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on August 17, 2026. She was born June 11, 1958, in Minden, Nebraska, and grew up in Kearney, graduating from Kearney High School in 1976.

Kathryn held several jobs over the years before settling into a long career as a Market Manager at Sam's Club, first in Grand Island and later in Omaha, where she moved in November 2006. In her fifties, she retired to help care for her mother, Lovena.

Kathryn loved finding new recipes but treated them more as inspiration than rules to follow. She never feared cooking "a little extra," saying, "You can always freeze it." It made her a master of freezer Tetris.

She was an avid reader, exploring the world through books that could take her anywhere she wanted to go. That same spirit carried into real life.

She once flew to Peru with a 50-pound backpack of supplies for her son, then joined him on a hike to Machu Picchu. One day of that trip started with a pisco tasting well before 10 a.m. that left them both in a good mood and ended with them tearing up sand dunes in a dune buggy until both were laughing until they cried.

One of Kathryn's favorite adventures was joining her son on a business trip to Portland, Maine. Cold, rainy days didn't keep her from exploring, and when the sun finally came out, she was ready for a sailboat ride. Because she was in Maine, she ate lobster at nearly every meal.

She and Doug also took to the road together often over the years, with their dachshund Peanut usually along for the ride.

A devoted animal lover, she shared her life with a furry family, including her dachshunds Peanut, Bella, and Izzy, and family dogs Snickers, Nikki, and Barney. When Peanut developed diabetes, she monitored his blood sugar and gave him his insulin daily for years. This was the level of care she brought to all of her relationships, furry or not.

Faith and community were central to Kathryn throughout her life. Her faith helped shape the way she moved through the world, with an open heart, a generous spirit and an instinct to care for the people around her. She was part of St. Leo's Parish in Grand Island, and after moving to Omaha, found a church home first at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, then at Love Church, and finally at Citylight Church. At each, she was devoted to Bible study and built close, lasting friendships.

Kathryn is survived by her husband, Douglas Davis; her son, Brandon Davis; her sisters, Shirley (Lou) Dirks and Sandra (Ron) Blank; her brother, Lindell Harms; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Harms and Lovena (Kruse) Crouse, her stepfather, Melvin Crouse, and her brother, Keith Harms.

In a letter to her husband and son, she wrote, "I loved life and I love all of you!" and asked that, at the end of the service, everyone "put a smile on their face and remember me with a smile on mine."

Family and friends are invited to gather, share stories and remember her smiling face together. A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Citylight Church West, 3401 Oak View Dr, Omaha, NE 68144. A second memorial service will be held Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at All Faiths Funeral Home, 2929 S Locust St, Grand Island, NE 68801. A reception will follow each service. Both services will be livestreamed, with links to be shared separately. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the organizations below:

Least of My Brethren — helps people transitioning out of homelessness in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area with survival essentials and furnished apartments.

https://midlandscommunity.org/donate-now/?fundid=2879

GBM Research Organization — funds glioblastoma research at major cancer centers to help find a cure.

gbmresearch.org/donate

Asher House — an animal sanctuary providing rescue, rehabilitation, and lifelong care for animals in need.

https://www.theasherhouse.com/pages/donate